ZHANGJIAKOU, China — Tyler Turner and Lisa DeJong captured Canada's first-ever medals in snowboarding at the Paralympic Winter Games.

Turner from Campbell River, B.C., won gold in the men's snowboard cross Monday at the Beijing Paralympics.

The victory came just minutes after DeJong, from Sherwood Park, Alta., won silver in the women's snowboard cross.

The 33-year-old Turner led from the very beginning of the big final. He built a commanding lead and would not be caught.

American Mike Schultz was second and Wu Zhongwei of China won bronze.

A little earlier, DeJong won Canada's first para-snowboard medal with a second-place finish in the women's big final.

DeJong built a comfortable lead on the third and fourth-place racers but could not close the gap on gold-medal winner Cecile Hernandez of France.

Sandrine Hamel of Saint-Sauveur, Que., was fourth in the small final to finish eighth overall.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 6, 2022.